VeryShortIntroductions:Brilliant,Sharp,InspiringTheSecondVaticanCouncil(1962-1965),orVaticanII,isarguablythemostsignificanteventinthelifeoftheCatholicChurchsincetheReformation.TheCouncilinitiated,intentionallyornot,profoundchangesnotsimplywithinCatholictheology,butinthereligious,social,andmorallivesoftheworld’sbillionCatholics.Italsoreconfigured,intellectuallyandpractically,theChurch’sengagementswiththoseoutsideofit-mostobviouslywithregardtootherreligions.ThesixteendocumentsformallyissuedbyVaticanIIconstitutesomeofthemostinfluentialwritingsofthewholetwentiethcentury.Debatesovertheircorrectinterpretationandauthorityareconstant,buttheyremainanindispensablepoint-of-referenceforallareasofCatholiclife,fromliturgyandsacraments,totheChurch’svastnetworkofcharitableandeducationalendeavourstheworldover.InthisVeryShortIntroduction,ShaunBlanchardandStephenBullivantpresentthebackstorytothisevent.VaticanIIisexploredinlightofthewiderhistoryoftheCatholicChurchandplacedinthetumultuouscontextofthe1960s.ItdistilstheresearchonVaticanII,employingthefirst-handaccountsofparticipantsandobservers,andtheofficialproceedingsoftheCounciltopaintarichpictureofoneofthemostimportanteventsofthelastcentury.ABOUTTHESERIES:TheVeryShortIntroductionsseriesfromOxfordUniversityPresscontainshundredsoftitlesinalmosteverysubjectarea.Thesepocket-sizedbooksaretheperfectwaytogetaheadinanewsubjectquickly.Ourexpertauthorscombinefacts,analysis,perspective,newideas,andenthusiasmtomakeinterestingandchallengingtopicshighlyreadable.
